DCB Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Lots of magazines have photos showing smoke/ steam issuing from 00 gauge locos as part of their layout features. How much of this is Airbrush and how much DCC? Can anyone enlighten me please. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted March 31, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2018 If it's DCC the chip has overheated. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 (edited) I would guess 99% photoshop. Model smoke never looks real. The only one I saw that came close was real pea souper on a German Gauge 1 loco..... Edited March 31, 2018 by gordon s 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIMorrison Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 By Airbrush do you actually mean photoshopping, AKA image manipulation? If that is what you mean then 100%, if you mean airbrush as in a paint sprayer then 0% Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 In the 4mm scale world it will be 100% photoshop (whether it's CGI smoke or cloned from full-size steam), the only 'real' smoke shots you are ever likely to see will be in the Garden Rail world where live steam can be photographed in natural light with reasonably short shutter speeds. Indoors much longer exposures are needed and any 'smoke' will have dissipated. It'll only be 10 minutes before someone pops up to say they hate it; but you didn't ask whether people liked it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 I was going to say that this sort of photoshopping only seems to be applied to steam locos. I can't recall seeing any where exhaust has been added to photos of model diesels; but I won't mention it as it'll be putting bad ideas in Photo Editors' heads... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 We need to go back to the days when the Editor would take a mighty puff of his pipe and breathe over the loco just before the intrepid Photographer took his snap! Much more realistic...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Oh yeah; I've forgotten I've done that before now... 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 I'm sorry it took a bit longer than 20 minutes but here goes - I HATE IT! Hornby Magazine should know by now that it doesn't fool anybody. Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted March 31, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2018 I'm sorry it took a bit longer than 20 minutes but here goes - I HATE IT! Hornby Magazine should know by now that it doesn't fool anybody. Chris Arguably it is no more false than the weathering so many people now apply..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Right Away Posted March 31, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2018 Another "Marmite" scenario. If image manipulation must be resorted to it should render results which are convincing to the viewer; a high percentage of photos just shout "Photoshop" or whichever program has been used. Injector "blow offs", leaks from locos in dire need of repair and coach heating connections are seldom represented and would add to the overall realism. Do we stop there? Perhaps smoke from house chimneys, bonfires, vehicle exhausts. The creativity and skill shown by the modeller is first and foremost what the magazine should portray, the ability within the digital darkroom of lesser importance. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted March 31, 2018 Author Share Posted March 31, 2018 Thanks everyone, seems to me if one of these electronic cigarettes can fill an entire car with fumes then maybe DCC was creating some of these effects. I will get back to experimenting with a Triang smoke unit in my class 37. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Personally I don't like it, but I mostly just ignore it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted April 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 1, 2018 (edited) I suspect Photoshop and similar tools are mainly used to paint out unrealistic backgrounds in photos of models. I think this is a good thing because a background that's not part of the modelled scene can be really jarring and removing it massively improves affected photos. However, I think that using Photoshop any further than that is, as some people above have suggested, a dangerous slippery slope that eventually leads to complete computer simulation. Nothing wrong with simulation in itself but it's a different beast with different rewards than physical railway modelling. Anyhoo, what I really wanted to say was this: @David: You are hinting at an interesting idea: Use the electronic vapour generators found in "e-cigarettes" as "smoke" generators in model locos. Take power from the track and connect the airflow switch input (I assume there must be one in these devices) to one of the DCC function outputs to generate "smoke" chuffs appropriate to the speed and work rate of the loco. This may or may not be feasible but it might be worth investigating! Maybe one day it will be possible to buy "vaping fluid" (urgh) with the flavour of oil, hot steel and coal ash... Edited April 1, 2018 by Harlequin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted April 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 1, 2018 Maybe one day it will be possible to buy "vaping fluid" (urgh) with the flavour of oil, hot steel and coal ash...About 30 years ago a US firm offered a product called Olfactory Airs, designed with a choice of multiple aromas as you suggest, to give the railway room a little extra atmosphere. I’m not sure they were a great success. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Here's a lovely shot taken on my Trebudoc O Gauge Layout by Andy Y, and no smoke, just a pleasant heat haze, really effective I feel. BTW this is my Screen Saver. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 This topic wasn't supposed to be about the merits or otherwise of smoke. However, the most important people in the equation are the layout owners and what their wishes are which I frequently discuss with them. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 About 30 years ago a US firm offered a product called Olfactory Airs, designed with a choice of multiple aromas as you suggest, to give the railway room a little extra atmosphere..... I can do that all on my own. A curry and a couple of pints usually helps the effect. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIMorrison Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 This topic wasn't supposed to be about the merits or otherwise of smoke. However, the most important people in the equation are the layout owners and what their wishes are which I frequently discuss with them. perhaps not, but like a conversation in the pub (and that is the best real world analogy) it will wander around and many of those wanderings provide interesting diversions from the original topic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Or predictable monologues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIMorrison Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 wow, you are really full of the joys of spring this morning Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted April 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 1, 2018 wow, you are really full of the joys of spring this morning I suspect moderating us lot on Easter Day comes fairly well down the list of things Andy might prefer to be doing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Scented smoke for model railways? Already available. http://www.petersspares.com/megasteam-megasteam-smoke-oils-wtih-smells.irc Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 You can never have enough smoke !!! Brit15 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Graff Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Well, I don't care if they Photoshop a bit of smoke on the pictures. What REALLY irks me is the bad habit of photoshopping real backgrounds in every picture! If the builder hasn't managed to build a complete railroad environment, then it is to be shot as is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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